METRO's Fiscal Year 2027 Budget is Better Because of You
Over the course of this budget cycle transit riders like you, and others across the region, showed up, spoke up, and shared their daily experiences of using METRO to help guide the METRO Board of Directors to a better budget. Your advocacy resulted in two big wins for transit riders.
No Service Cuts in Fiscal Year 2027
Riders depend on fast, frequent, and reliable service to go about their lives. LINK Houston’s number 1 priority coming into this budget season was to ensure service was not cut. The community agreed and spoke up demanding the board take action. Thankfully they listened. No service will be cut for riders in Fiscal Year 2027. After the successful FIFA World Cup increase in service we know that METRO is capable of providing a transformational level of service to riders. We will continue to ask for increases in the FY 2028 budget and beyond.
No Risky Debt Restructuring
In the first few iterations of the Fiscal Year 2027 budget METRO was proposing a significant and costly debt restructuring to navigate a reduced sales tax forecast and upcoming debt payments. This move had the potential to lower the agency’s credit rating – possibly limiting the amount of future borrowing for METRO. Staff were able to provide an alternate sales tax forecast that allowed the board to avoid this change.
This Budget isn’t Perfect. METRO’s still Diverting Transit Resources to Road Repaving
The one glaring issue of the FY 2027 budget that was passed is the inclusion of $40 million dollars of transit funding being diverted to a senseless continuation of road work. You spoke up about this. We spoke up about this. The news reported the criticism of this budget item. Yet the METRO board unanimously approved this item. We will continue to speak out to defend funding for transit riders in the region and hope you’ll join us.
